Container Cap Containing Heating Agent Insert

ABSTRACT

A container cap or lid or insert for use in heating food and beverage containers having an independent heating chamber in which are utilized a trigger capable of initiating crystallization of a super-cooled salt solution comprising: a thin metallic strip which is bendable with snap displacement having a centrally located crystallization strike zone consisting of an orifice with a saw-toothed patterned inner diameter; a simple actuation means for initiating the heating process upon contact with the strike zone; and a structure for holding the trigger in position. The independent heating chamber can be made to be a permanent fixture of the cap or lid or may be a removable insert.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claim priority to provisional Patent Application Ser.No. 61/473,016, filed Apr. 7, 2011, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to self-heating containers and moreparticularly to self-heating container caps or lids having insertableand non-insertable independent heating chambers or devices wherebyheating is initiated by the initiation of crystallization of asuper-cooled salt solution stored within the chambers. In particular,the invention utilizes a reliable trigger mechanism to initiatecrystallization of the super-cooled salt solution that lends itself tothe reuse of the device.

2. Description of the Art

Heat packs utilizing super-cooled aqueous salt solutions as a heatingagent are described in the prior art. Various solutions such as sodiumacetate and calcium nitrate tetrahydrate are used for this purpose. Inthe past crystallization has been initialized in such heat packs by thescraping of metal to metal in contact with the super-cooled solution orby the insertion of a crystal into the solution. For example, U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,077,390 and 4,379,448 describe a flexible metal strip triggerincorporating fissures on the surface of the metal or slits in the metalto initiate contact with the salt solution of sodium acetate wherebycrystallization is initiated by flexing the strip. U.S. Pat. No.4,572,158 discloses a trigger comprising a flexible metal sheet having aplurality of activator cuts that extend through the thin sheet materialand the shape of each slit includes a first or central slit and a minorslit that extends through the thin sheet material at one end of saidfirst slit and at an angle to the direction of the major slit. Althoughsuch triggering devices are used in heat packs, their use along withsuper-cooled salt solutions in self-heating food and beverage containersis very limited due to a number of factors.

Self-heating containers useful for preparing heated beverages or foodare known in the prior art and typically utilize a water-activated orliquid-activated exothermic materials as the heating agent to heat thecontainer rather than a super-cooled salt solution. The process of heatgeneration in these devices is typically that of a chemical reactionbetween the materials with subsequent consumption of the reactants andproduction of products, some of which can be undesirable when made partof a consumer product. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,921 describes aself-heating vessel that comprises a compartment for the substance to beheated that is adjacent to a sealed container containing a heating agentand water in which one of the materials is sealed in a pouch to keep itseparated from the other material. U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,022 discloses acontainer having a reaction module that contains a solid reactant and acap module that contains a liquid reactant. Initiation of an exothermicreaction occurs when the two reagents are combined together. U.S. Pat.No. 6,178,753 describes a container equipped with a two-chamber thermalmodule containing chemical reagents such as calcium oxide and water thatare known to produce an exothermic reaction to heat the contents. Thecontainer has vents to allow the escape of gas and or steam which istypically generated by the use of exothermic chemical agents.

Such self-heating containers described in the prior art have had limitedcommercial success. Containers that utilize water-activated chemicalheating agents often require complex components, making them expensiveand difficult to manufacture. Such water-activated devices are notalways reliable because the ingredients fail to properly mix togetherupon activation or the products of the chemical reaction are toxic orirritating to the user. One particular problem associated with the useof chemical heating agents is the stability of these agents duringstorage. Mixtures of calcium oxides and calcium chloride, for example,can be effective water-activated heating agents but have a tendency toreact prematurely if stored together as a mixture. Self-heatingcontainers described in the prior art that utilize exothermic chemicalagents are also not intentionally designed to be recyclable or tofacilitate the reuse of the spent chemicals held within, and thus have areputation of being a wasteful and non-sustainable product andtechnology.

Self-heating containers that utilize super-cooled aqueous salt solutionsas the heating agent in a manner similar to heat packs thus appear tohave advantages over water-activated chemical self-heating devicesdescribed in the prior art in that only a single, stable chemical isused for heat generation. Here the heat is generated by the phase changethat occurs as the super-cooled salt solution changes into acrystallized solid, and no chemical reaction or production ofbi-products are involved. Another major advantage of the use ofsuper-cooled salt solutions to generate heat compared to the use ofchemical reactants is that the super-cooled material can be regeneratedafter use from the crystallized salt by heating the material above itsmelting point in a controlled manner. Self-heating containers thatutilize super-cooled salt solutions are thus capable of being re-used orrecycled, and are a more sustainable product compared to those devicesthat use chemical reactants. Such self-heating devices, however, requirethe use of a triggering mechanism to induce crystallization, and thetriggering mechanisms described in the prior art for use in heat packsare not designed for use in beverage and food containers. There is thusa need for a reliable triggering mechanism that can be used to initiatecrystallization of a super-cooled salt solution used in a self-heatingbeverage or food container that is simple to use, low cost and capableof allowing the reuse or recycling of the container or the heatingagent.

With respect to the above, it is important for commercial success of anyself-heating container that it can be utilized within the preferredprocesses for making beverages and food. For example, many beveragesmust be pasteurized before being sealed in a container so that bacteriagrowth is eliminated and spoilage of the consumable item is minimized.Beverages such as milk, coffee drinks and the like are pasteurized inthe body of the container before the lid is fixed to the container, soany self-heating embodiment should be compatible with the existingpasteurization processes and not involve addition process steps.

Self-heating containers should also be manufactured using conventionalmanufacturer materials and equipment with minimal adaptation. Forexample, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,678 a container comprised of an outercompartment for holding a beverage and an inner compartment for holdinga heating or cooling agent is shown that can be manufactured withconventional can manufacturing technology. Here the container is made byfirst pre-forming the outer compartment such that it can be used toenclose a beverage during pasteurization and then pre-forming the innercompartment, as an integral part of the can lid or as a separatechamber, inserting the heating or cooling agent into inner thecompartment and then inserting the completed inner compartment into theouter compartment. The lid of the sealed container thus has a portal toaccess the inner compartment containing the heating or cooling agent anda portal to access the beverage, and can be made with conventional lidmanufacturing techniques and affixed to the container using conventionaltechnology.

In a similar manner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,812 discloses caps that containheating or cooling agents that can be fixed to the tops of containers toprovide a means of changing the temperature of the contents of thecontainers. It is thus evident from the prior art that it isadvantageous to incorporate a self-heating device and especially adevice that utilizes a super-cooled salt solution as the heating agent,into the caps or lids of containers rather than into the main body ofthe container in order to be compatible with existing beverage processesand container-manufacturing technology. Such an incorporation, however,must be designed to minimize contact between the heating agent and thebeverage. However, at the present time, none of these prior self-heatingcontainers, lids or caps have met with commercial success.

In order to be commercially successful, self-heating containers mustembody several attributes in addition to being adaptable to currentcontainer manufacturing techniques and processes. It is essential that:the heating mechanism must be safe, simple, inexpensive and efficient;the actuation technique for initiating the heating process must betamper-evident and simple in order to appeal to the consumer; and thedevice must facilitate and encourage the environmentally safe reuse orrecycle of the spent heating agent. Self-heating containers, lids andcaps shown in the prior art have not had one or more of the aboveattributes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container equippedwith a cap or lid coupled to a self-heating device and method which canefficiently and safely heat beverages prior to consumption.

It is another object of this invention to provide a cap or lidcontaining a self-heating device which can manufactured without majoralterations in manufacturing machinery or equipment.

It is another object of this invention to employ an exothermic processwith safe and inexpensive materials as a self-contained heatingmechanism.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a cap or lidcontaining a self-heating device which can be easily and safely actuatedto initiate the heating process.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a cap or lidcontaining a self-heating device that can facilitate and encourage theenvironmentally safe reuse or recycle of the heating agent held within.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a self-heating containercomprising:

(a) a closure means, typically flat like a lid or shaped to fit over anopening or portal, having dimensions such that the closure means cancover and enclose an outer compartment containing a beverage to beheated and form the top end of the outer compartment whereby thecompartment also has at least one sidewall and a bottom end whereby thesidewall, lid or cap and the bottom end form a first cavity for storinga liquid. Here the lid is coupled to a self-heating device and isdirectly and permanently attached to the outer compartment.

(b) a closure means, typically a threaded cap shaped to fit over anopening or portal, having dimensions such that the closure means cancover and enclose an outer compartment containing a beverage to beheated and form the top end of the outer compartment whereby thecompartment also has at least one sidewall and a bottom end whereby thesidewall, cap and the bottom end form a first cavity for storing aliquid. Here the cap is either permanently coupled to a self-heatingdevice or to a well that can contain the self-heating device, or can bescrewed onto the outer compartment to make contact between the lip of aself-heating device that lies on top of the first cavity such that aleak-free seal is formed between the cap, the lip of the self-heatingdevice and the outer compartment. The cap is not permanently attached tothe outer compartment but can be unscrewed and removed to access thebeverage in the first cavity of the outer compartment and also screwedback on to seal off the first cavity when desired.

(c) an openable closure means located on, adjacent to incorporatedwithin the surface of the lid of the outer compartment such that themeans can be penetrated or opened or removed to provide access to theliquid stored within as is the case for a beverage can; oralternatively, the cap itself comprises an openable closure means as isthe case for a beverage bottle.

(d) a self-heating device comprising an inner compartment having asmaller diameter and volume than the outer compartment and incorporatedinto or coupled to the cap or lid forming the top end of the outercompartment such that the inner compartment can be located within thecavity of the outer compartment when the cap or lid containing the innercompartment is affixed to the outer compartment, said inner compartmentincluding: (i) at least one sidewall, a top end and a bottom end, (ii) asecond cavity containing a heating agent consisting of a super-cooledsalt solution that exists as a liquid in its pre-activation state, (iii)an openable closure or tear panel or means attached to the bottom endthat provides tamper-free access to the inner compartment whilepreventing accidental activation of the heating mechanism, (iv) astructure or fixture in the form of a concentric ring that is attachedto the interior sidewall of the inner compartment at the bottom quadrantof the compartment that is designed to rigidly hold the trigger in placesuch that it is in contact with the heating agent and positioned to bestruck by an actuator means, (v) an actuator means comprising a solidrod-like or cylindrically shaped piece having an etched, pock-marked orroughened surface with a sharpened end, (vi) a trigger formed from athin metallic strip having an etched, pock-marked or roughened surfacewhich is bendable with snap displacement and having a centrally locatedcrystallization strike zone consisting of an orifice with a saw-toothedpatterned inner diameter, (vii) a flexible diaphragm attached to orcomprising the bottom end of the inner compartment and accessiblethrough the openable closure or tear panel having an interior-orientedsurface and an exterior-oriented surface whereby the interior-orientedsurface is affixed to the rod-like actuator and (viii) a heatingmechanism comprising the compressible diaphragm attached to the actuatormeans that is activated by compressing the diaphragm towards theinterior of the inner compartment to allow the actuator means to strikeagainst the saw-tooth surfaces of the trigger in the strike zone,scraping against those surfaces while simultaneously causing the metalstrip of the trigger to bend with a snap displacement such that theforces released initiate the crystallization of the super-cooled saltsolution, thus releasing heat to heat up the beverage or food stored inthe first cavity of the container.

With respect to the same self-heating container, the diameter of therod-like actuator is approximately the same as the diameter of theorifice contained within the trigger as measured at the base of thesaw-toothed edges of the orifice, and the surfaces of the actuator andtrigger are etched, pock-marked or roughened such that upon activationthe actuator surface will rub against the saw-toothed edges of thetrigger and compress the solution trapped between the surfacedeformities of the actuator and the edges of the trigger, initiatingcrystallization. Crystallization is further enhanced when the trigger issubjected to flexing or bending whereby the surface deformities presentin the roughened and etched surface of the trigger are strained suchthat minute cracks and continuances are formed within the deformitiesthat impart stresses to the super-cooled salt solution in intimatecontact with the trigger surface, thus facilitating the crystallizationprocess.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a self-heating container asdescribed above that is affixed to the cap or lid containing theself-heating device may have a layer of insulation is affixed to theinterior or the exterior surface of the sidewall of the outercompartment.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a lid containing theself-heating device as described above that also serves as a covering ofthe top end of a self-heating beverage container as described above hasan openable closure means on the surface of the top end of the outercompartment comprising a rupturable tear panel or pull tab which may beruptured to provide access to the liquid stored within the first cavitywhereby (i) the pull tab has a front end and a bottom end and (ii) theback end of the pull tab is placed adjacent to the rupturable tear panelsuch that when the front end of the pull tab is pulled away from the topend of the outer compartment, the rupturable tear panel ruptures andmoves into the first cavity, provide access to the liquid stored within.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a self-heatingcontainer as described above has an openable closure means consisting ofa cap that can be firmly attached to top end of the outer compartment toform a sealed unit comprising: (i) a threaded cap equipped with afemale-threaded fitting or other female-threaded means having anexterior surface and an interior surface such that the cap when screwedonto the self-heating container will create a self-contained unit, (ii)a seal or gasket affixed to the interior surface of the cap that canalso cover the opening of the outer compartment to create an isolatedfirst cavity within the outer compartment that can contain any enclosedbeverage or liquid without leakage or spillage and without anycontamination from the environment even when the liquid is pressurizedunder those pressures typical of a carbonated beverage, (iii) a top endof the outer compartment equipped with a male-threaded fitting or othermale threaded means that can mate with the threaded cap when screwedtogether to form a tight-fitting seal between the cap, the gasket, thetop end of the outer compartment and the first cavity of the outercompartment.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a lid or cap asdescribed above is directly and permanently attached to the innercompartment of the self-heating device which is then in direct contactwith the liquid contained within the outer compartment and locatedwithin the first cavity of the outer compartment. As shown above, theinner compartment is self-contained without any seals or penetrationsbetween the contents of the inner compartment and the contents of thefirst cavity of the outer compartment so that contamination of abeverage with heating agent is virtually eliminated. With respect to theinner compartment, the flexible diaphragm is affixed to the bottom ofthe inner compartment to create a completely self-contained unit thatcan be activated by the consumer with no contact between the consumerand contents of the inner compartment. As an additional safety feature,the flexible diaphragm and contact interface with the consumer withrespect to activating the heating mechanism is completely separated fromthe pull tab at the top of the container whereby the consumer accessesthe beverage. By these features, the cap or lid attached to aself-heating device and the corresponding self-heating container is madesafe to use.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the surface of the capor lid is expanded to form a well that can extend into the interior ofthe first cavity, when the lid or cap is secured to the outercompartment, to displace some of the volume of the first cavity thatcontains the liquid to be heated up such that a third cavity is formedthat does not contain any liquid and is open to the environment. Thethird cavity conforms to the shape of the inner compartment and is madeto hold the inner compartment in place. The inner compartment can beheld in place within the lid or cap by a pressure seal attached to thecircumference of the bottom end of the sidewall of the inner compartmentor by modifying the bottom end of the sidewall to form a male threadedfitting that can be screwed into a female threaded fitting formed as amodification of the bottom expanded end of the outer container. In thismanner a separate heating device or insert that comprises the heatingmechanism and the heating agent can be manufactured separately from thecap or lid of the container holding the beverage to be heated, and thusthe described heating device can be inserted into and removed from thecap or lid and thus indirectly from a beverage container for ease of useand to promote efficiency with respect to the manufacturing of the lid,cap, container and the device and with respect to the recycling andreuse of the lids, caps, containers and the spent heating materials.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the sidewall adjacentto the top end of the inner compartment of the self-heating device asdescribed herein is modified to form a lip or concentric ring thatextends outward perpendicular to the vertical axis of the sidewall ofthe inner compartment. The lip has a top surface, a bottom surface, anda gasket attached to the bottom surface of the lip, and is extended suchthat the bottom surface of the lip forms a leak-free seal of the firstcavity when the modified self-heating device is placed into the firstcavity of the outer compartment and onto the top of the outercompartment of a beverage container and downward pressured is applied tothe top surface of the lip. This downward pressure can be applied byscrewing on any standard cap or lid that is typically used to seal abeverage or food container which is typically a glass or plastic bottle.In this manner a separate heating device or insert can be manufacturedand sold separately from the cap or lid and the container holding thebeverage to be heated, and thus the described heating device can beinserted into and removed from a beverage bottle or other relatedcontainer having a cap or a lid without the need for a speciallymodified cap, lid or self-heating container for ease of use and toreduce the cost of use.

The lid or cap containing the self-heating device when used as part of aself-heating container disclosed herein thus provides several additionalbenefits, some of which are detailed below. For example, sinceself-heating beverages do not have to be heated using an externalheating source to provide a heated liquid, their use may reduce the costborne by retailers of beverage containers to heat up the beverage priorto use. Self-heating beverage containers may similarly reduce oreliminate the need for vending machines that heat up the beverage priorto dispensing it to the consumer. Lid and caps containing theself-heating devices are also easier and less costly to manufacturecompared to self-heating containers where the self-heating device ispart of the body of the container instead of the cap or lid.Self-heating devices that can be used with any standard beverage bottlewithout modification of the bottle or cap or lid are particularlyadvantages with respect to cost and ease of use and time to market.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND DRAWINGS

The objects of the present invention and the associated advantagesthereof will become more readily apparent from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the following drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a self-heating beverage container havinga lid containing a self-heating device.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-section through an insulated self-chillingbeverage container illustrating the lid attached to the innercompartment of the self-heating device and coupled to the outercompartment and illustrating: the lid; the first cavity containing thebeverage; the second cavity containing the heating agent; the rod-likeactuator; the structure or fixture holding the trigger in place; thetrigger and the orifice with saw-toothed edges comprising the strikezone; the flexible diaphragm; and the closed tear panel.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-section through an insulated self-heatingbeverage container illustrating the lid containing the self-heatingdevice and the opening of the access tear panel and illustrating theactivation means contacting the strike zone of the trigger while flexingthe trigger and initiating the crystallization of the heating agent.

FIG. 4 is an expanded view of the heating mechanism showing thestructure, actuator and trigger.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-section through an insulated self-heatingbeverage container illustrating the outer compartment with the firstcavity containing the beverage and a lid having an expanded bottom endforming a third cavity modified with a female-threaded means in which isinserted the threaded heating device.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-section through a self-heating beveragecontainer illustrating the outer compartment with the first cavitycontaining the beverage and a lid having an expanded bottom end forminga third cavity modified with a female-threaded means, and anillustration of the heating device insert having: the second cavitycontaining the heating agent; the rod-like actuator; the structure orfixture holding the trigger in place; the trigger and the orifice withsaw-toothed edges comprising the strike zone; the flexible diaphragm;and the bottom end of the sidewall modified with a male-threaded means.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-section through an insulated self-heatingbeverage container illustrating the outer compartment with the firstcavity containing the beverage and a lid having an expanded bottom endforming a third cavity in which is inserted the heating device equippedwith a pressure seal.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-section through an insulated self-heatingbeverage container illustrating the outer compartment with the firstcavity containing the beverage and a lid having an expanded bottom endforming a third cavity and an illustration of the heating device inserthaving: the second cavity containing the heating agent; the rod-likeactuator; the structure or fixture holding the trigger in place; thetrigger and the orifice with saw-toothed edges comprising the strikezone; the flexible diaphragm; and the bottom end of the sidewallequipped with a pressure seal.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-section through a self-heating beveragebottle illustrating the threaded cap containing the self-heating deviceand illustrating the inner compartment coupled to the outer compartmentand illustrating: the first cavity containing the beverage; the secondcavity containing the heating agent; the rod-like actuator; thestructure or fixture holding the trigger in place; the trigger and theorifice with saw-toothed edges comprising the strike zone; the flexiblediaphragm; and the closed tear panel.

FIG. 10 is a close view of a vertical-cross-section of a typicalbeverage bottle and threaded cap illustrating self-heating bottle havinga self-heating device equipped with a lip where said device can beinserted into the beverage bottle to heat the bottle withoutmodification of the bottle or the cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a self-heating container 5particularly suited for milk, coffee, tea and other similar beverageswith a lid 3 at its top end 11 coupled to a self-heating device 46.Preferably, the container 5 is a can constructed of conventionalmaterials such as aluminum or other suitable materials, or a bottleconstructed of a plastic material such as polycarbonate as illustratedin FIG. 9 with a cap 4 constructed of plastic or other materials. Withreference to FIG. 2, the container 5 has an outer compartment 10 havinga lid 3, a bottom end 12 and at least one sidewall 13, an optionalinsulation means 14, an outer compartment 10 that encloses a firstcavity 15 that contains a beverage 16 to be heated, an openable closuremeans 17 and an inner compartment 18 that contains the heating agent 19,a trigger 20 formed from a thin metallic strip, a structure or fixture21 that holds the trigger 20 in place, a rod-like actuator means 22 foractivating the trigger 20, a flexible diaphragm 23 used to apply forceto the actuator means 22, and an openable closure or tear panel 24 thatprevents accidental activation of the heating mechanism. A close view ofthe lower half of the inner compartment 18 of the self-heating beveragecontainer 5 illustrating the actuator means 22, the structure 21, thetrigger 20 the un-activated flexible diaphragm 23, and the closed tearpanel 24 is shown in FIG. 4.

With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the openable closure means 17typically consists of a pull-tab 6 coupled to the top end 11 of theouter compartment 10 and is generally opened by pulling up on the tab 6to pivot the tab 6 such that the tab 6 breaks a rupturable tear panel 7incorporated into the top end 11 of the outer compartment 10, allowingaccess to the beverage 16 contained within the first cavity 15.Typically, the openable closure means 17 is made from the same materialscommonly used to manufacture metal cans including steel, aluminum andalloys.

Alternatively, and in reference to FIG. 9, the openable closure means 17may consist of a cap 4 that can be firmly attached to top end 11 of theouter compartment 10 to form a sealed unit comprising: (i) a threadedcap 4 equipped with a female-threaded fitting 53 or otherfemale-threaded means having an exterior surface 54 and an interiorsurface 55 such that the cap 4 when screwed onto the self-heatingcontainer 5 will create a self-contained unit, (ii) a portal or orifice56 made through the top surface of the cap 4 of sufficient diameter toallow insertion of a self-heating device 46 as described herein; (iii) aself-heating device 46 incorporated into or coupled to the cap 4 throughthe portal 55 to form a leak-free cap 4; (iv) a seal or gasket 57affixed to the interior surface 55 of the cap 4 and forming around theouter circumference of the self-heating device 46 that can also coverthe opening of the outer compartment to create an isolated first cavity15 within the outer compartment 10 that can contain any enclosedbeverage or liquid 16 without leakage or spillage and without anycontamination from the environment even when the liquid 16 ispressurized under those pressures typical of a carbonated beverage, and(v) a top end 11 of the outer compartment 10 equipped with amale-threaded fitting or other male threaded means 57 that can mate withthe threaded cap 4 when screwed together to form a tight-fitting sealbetween the cap 4, the gasket 57, the top end 11 of the outercompartment and the first cavity 16 of the outer compartment 10.

With further reference to FIG. 2, the inner compartment 18 is positionedadjacent to the bottom end 12 of the outer compartment 10 and has atleast one sidewall 27, a top end 28 and a bottom end 29. The innercompartment 18 also contains a second cavity 30 that contains theheating agent 19. The heating agent 19 in the second cavity 30 istypically a super-cooled solution 19 such as aqueous sodium acetate asreferred to in U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,390. Here heat is generated by anexothermic process brought about by a phase change that occurs as thesuper-cooled salt solution 19 changes into a crystallized solid uponactivation by the trigger 20, and this heat is absorbed by the beverage16 in the container 5. The concentration of the salt in solution 19 issufficient to produce such crystallization in response to activation. Tofacilitate heat transfer from the inner compartment 18 to the beverage16, the inner compartment 18 should be constructed of a suitable heattransfer material and is preferably made from materials such as steel,aluminum or other metal alloys.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the trigger 20 is a thin, flat metalstrip with dimensions of around ½ inch in width, 0.001 to 0.004 inchesin thickness and of sufficient length to attach to the supports 31, andhaving an etched, pock-marked or roughened surface which is bendablewith snap displacement. The strip can be made of any suitable metal,including iron, steel, tin brass, aluminum, bronze or alloys, but 305 or312 alloyed steel is preferred so that the trigger 20 will not corrodeexcessively when in contact with the super-cooled salt solution 19during storage.

The trigger 20 has a centrally located crystallization strike zone 32consisting of an orifice 33 with a saw-toothed patterned innerconfiguration 34 of approximately ¼^(th) to ⅜^(th) inch in diameter atthe base of the saw-teeth 35. The entire surface of the trigger 20 isetched, pock-marked and roughened such that some of the surfacedeformities are deep enough to penetrate through the strip of metal,forming pin-holes and cracks 36 in the trigger 20. The surface isroughened by a process known by those in the art sufficient to createthe deformities without so weakening the mechanical integrity of themetal to cause it to break apart when flexed by the actuator 22.

The trigger 20 is secured in place within the lower quadrant of theinner compartment 18 by the fixture 21 which is in turn attached to theinner sidewall 27 of the inner compartment 18 at a locationapproximately 1 inch above the bottom end 29 of the inner compartment18. The fixture is a concentric ring shape approximately ¼^(th) inch to½ inch in width and thickness having two rectangular support members 31of approximately ¼^(th) inch to ½ inch in thickness and ½ inch in widthextending outwards from the circumference of the concentric ring toattach to opposite ends of the trigger 20, thus securing the trigger 20within the center of the fixture 21. The trigger 20 is attached to theeach of the two support members 31 by any method known to thoseexperienced in the art including by gluing, pinning or clamping. Thefixture 21 and the attached supports 31 can be fabricated of metal,plastic or any other suitably rigid material.

With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the actuator 22 is a rod-likestructure having approximately the same as the diameter of the orifice33 contained within the trigger 20 as measured at the base of thesaw-toothed edges 35 of the orifice 33, and of sufficient length toextend from its attachment to the flexible diaphragm 23 at the base ofthe inner compartment 18 to just below the location of the trigger 20.The actuator 22 is a solid and rigid structure having a top end 38, abottom end 39 and at least one sidewall 40. The top end 38 of theactuator 22 is sharpened and the bottom end 39 is blunt. At rest theactuator 22 is of sufficient length to penetrate within around 0.25inches through the orifice 33 of the trigger 22. The bottom end 39 ofthe actuator 22 is coupled or attached to the interior surface of theflexible diaphragm 23 by a housing 41 such that the housing 41 orientsthe actuator 22 to move vertically upward towards the strike zone of thetrigger 20 without moving significantly side-to-side.

The surface of the actuator 22 is etched, pock-marked or roughened suchthat upon activation the actuator surface will rub against thesaw-toothed edges 37 of the trigger 22 and compress the solution 19trapped between the surface deformities of the actuator 22 and the edges37 of the trigger 20, initiating crystallization. The surface isroughened by a process known by those in the art sufficient to createthe deformities without so weakening the mechanical integrity of theactuator 22 such that it would break apart upon activation.

With further reference to FIG. 2, the insulation means 14 may be coupledto the interior and exterior surfaces of the sidewall 13 of the outercompartment 10 to insulate the beverage 16 within the first cavity 15from heat. The insulation means 14 is typically made out of a non-toxicmaterial such as expanded polystyrene especially when it is applied tothe interior surface of the sidewall 13 where the material would come incontact with the beverage 16.

As shown in FIG. 3, when upward force is applied to the flexiblediaphragm 23 attached to the actuator 22, the actuator 22 is driven toscrape across the saw teeth edges 37 of the orifice 33 of the trigger 20which then bends with a snap displacement to initiate crystallization ofthe super-cooled salt solution 19. In this manner a separate heatingdevice or insert 46 that consists of the heating mechanism comprisingthe compressible diaphragm 23 attached to the actuator means 22 isactivated by compressing the diaphragm 23 towards the interior of theinner compartment to allow the actuator means 22 to strike against thesaw-tooth edges 37 of the trigger 20 in the strike zone, scrapingagainst those surfaces while simultaneously causing the metal strip ofthe trigger 20 to bend with a snap displacement such that the forcesreleased initiate the crystallization of the super-cooled salt solution19, thus releasing heat to heat up the beverage or food 16 stored in thefirst cavity 15 of the container 5.

With respect to the inner compartment 18, the flexible diaphragm 23 isaffixed to the bottom of the inner compartment 18 to create a completelyself-contained unit that can be activated by the consumer with nocontact between the consumer and contents of the inner compartment 18.As an additional safety feature, the flexible diaphragm 23 and contactinterface with the consumer with respect to activating the heatingmechanism is completely separated from the pull tab 6 at the top of thecontainer 5 whereby the consumer accesses the beverage 16. By thesefeatures, the self-heating container 5 is made safe to use.

With further reference to FIG. 2, an openable closure or tear panel 24is shown that prevents accidental activation of the heating mechanism.This tear panel 24 can be any material which will prevent access toflexible diaphragm 23 until it is desirable to access the flexiblediaphragm 24 and activate the heating mechanism. The tear panel 24 canbe an adhesive foil, a plastic cap or the like which can be pealed back,opened, or otherwise removed by the consumer. The tear panel 24 is shownin the opened position in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 2 through 4 describe a self-heating container 5 equipped with alid 3 as described above is directly and permanently attached to theouter compartment 10 of the self-heating can 5 and to the innercompartment 18 of the self-heating device 46, which is then in directcontact with the beverage 16 contained within the outer compartment 10and located within the first cavity 15 of the outer compartment 10. Inanother embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 8,the surface of the lid 3 is expanded to form a well that can extend intothe interior of the first cavity 15 when the lid 3 is secured to theouter compartment 10 to displace some of the volume of the first cavity15 that contains the liquid 16 to be heated such that a third cavity 47is formed that does not contain any liquid 16 and is open to theenvironment. The third cavity 47 conforms to the shape of the innercompartment 18 of the self-heating device 46 and is made to hold theinner compartment 18 in place. The inner compartment 18 can be held inplace within the well of the lid 3 by a pressure seal 49 attached to thecircumference of the top end 28 of the sidewall 27 of the innercompartment 18 or by modifying the top end 28 of the sidewall 27 to forma male threaded fitting 50 that can be screwed into a female threadedfitting 52 formed as a modification of the top expanded end of the well.In this manner a separate heating device or insert 46 that comprises theheating mechanism, the heating agent 19, the actuator 21, the fixture22, the un-activated flexible diaphragm 23, and the closed tear panel 24can all be manufactured separately from the lid 3 and the container 5holding the beverage to be heated 16, and thus the described heatingdevice 46 can be inserted into and removed from the lid 3 and thusindirectly from a beverage container 5 for ease of use and to promoteefficiency with respect to the manufacturing of the lid 3, container 5and the device 46 and with respect to the recycling and reuse of thecontainer 5 and its components.

FIG. 10 describes another embodiment of the invention where the sidewall27 adjacent to the top end 28 of the inner compartment 18 of theself-heating device 46 as described herein is modified to form a lip 58or concentric ring that extends outward perpendicular to the verticalaxis of the sidewall 27 of the inner compartment 19. The lip 58 has atop surface 59, a bottom surface 60, and a gasket 61 attached to thebottom surface 60 of the lip 58, and is extended such that the bottomsurface 60 of the lip 58 forms a leak-free seal of the first cavity 15when the modified self-heating device 46 is placed into the first cavity15 of the outer compartment 10 and onto the top 11 of the outercompartment 10 of a beverage container 62 and downward pressure isapplied to the top surface of the lip 58. This downward pressure can beapplied by screwing on any standard cap 63 or lid that is typically usedto seal a beverage or food container which is typically a glass orplastic bottle 62. In this manner a separate heating device or insert 46that comprises the heating mechanism, the heating agent 19, the actuator21, the fixture 22, the un-activated flexible diaphragm 23, and theclosed tear panel 24 can all be manufactured and sold separately fromthe cap 63 and the container holding the beverage to be heated 62, andthus the described heating device 46 can be inserted into and removedfrom a beverage bottle 62 or other related container having a cap 63without the need for a specially modified cap 4 or self-chillingcontainer 5 for ease of use and to reduce the cost of use.

The caps 4 or lids 3 containing the heating device 46 can all bemanufactured separately from the container 5 holding the beverage 16 tobe heated, and thus the described heating device 46 can be inserted intoand removed from the beverage container 5 for ease of use and to promoteefficiency with respect to the manufacturing of the container 5 and thedevice 46 and with respect to the recycling and reuse of the container 5or the insert 46. The insertable device 46 facilitates reuse of theheating materials 19 in that the device 46 containing the heatingmaterials 19 can be removed after use and slowly warmed to melt thecrystallized salt above the melting temperature of the salts in such amanner as to make a stable super-cooled salt solution 19. The devicecontaining the super-cooled salt solution 19 is then ready for use as athermal agent 19 to be inserted into the self-heating container 5.

With respect to the above, the operation of the present self-heatingcontainer 5 equipped with a lid 3 or a cap 4 containing a self-heatingdevice 46 or the self-heating device 46 used as an insert is safe andsimple. A customer first pulls away the tear panel 24 located at thebottom of the container 5 to gain access to the heating mechanism,applies pressure to the flexible diaphragm 23 with a finger therebycausing the force to be exerted upon the actuator means 22 and drivingthe actuator 22 to scrape against the trigger 20 at the strike zoneswhile causing the trigger 20 to bend with a snap displacement. Thisaction initiates crystallization of the super-cooled salt solution 9 inthe inner compartment 18 with the corresponding release of heat to thebeverage 16 stored in the first compartment 15 of the container 5, thusheating up the beverage 16. The beverage is consumed through theopenable closure means 17 by pulling on the pull tab 6 or unscrewing thebottle cap.

Alternatively, the consumer may remove the cap 63 from a standardbeverage bottle 62, which typically contains an airspace at the top,select a self-heating device 46equipped with a lip 58, activate theheating mechanism of the device in the same manner as above, insert theself-heating device 46 into the opening at the top of the beveragecontainer 62, and then tightly attaché the cap 63 and wait for thebeverage 16 to heat up sufficiently for consumption. The consumer canthen remove the cap 63 and the device 46 and consume the beverage 16.

After consuming the beverage 16, the consumer may then recycle theself-heating container 5 as a unit or as in one embodiment, remove theheating device 46 from the self-heating container 5 and recycle theheating device 46 and the remaining component of the self-heatingcontainer 5 separately. In another preferred embodiment of theinvention, the consumer may warm up the device 46 to restore thesuper-cooled salt solution 19 from the crystallized salt, refill thecontainer 5 with a beverage 16, insert the device 46 into the container5, activate the device 46 as described herein and heat up the beverage16. In this embodiment, the invention can be reused for its intendedpurpose, reducing waste.

While the preferred form of the present invention has been shown anddescribed above, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art thatthe subject invention is not limited by the Figures and that the scopeof the invention includes modifications, variations and equivalentswhich fall within the scope the attached claims. Moreover, it should beunderstood that the individual components of the invention includeequivalent embodiments without departing from the spirit of thisinvention.

1. An self-heating container cover for use in heating food and beveragecontainers comprising: a. a closure means, shaped to fit over theopening or portal of a container and to enclose an outer compartment ofthe container holding the materials to be heated and forming the top endof the outer compartment such that the sidewall, cover and the bottomend of the compartment form a first cavity for storing the materials tobe heated; b. an openable closure means located attached or coupled tothe surface of the cover such that the means can be penetrated or openedor removed to provide access to the materials stored within the outercompartment of the container; c. a self-device device comprising aninner compartment having a smaller diameter and volume than the outercompartment and attached or coupled to the cover forming the top end ofthe outer compartment such that the inner compartment can be locatedwithin the cavity of the outer compartment when the cover containing theinner compartment is affixed to the outer compartment, said innercompartment including(i) at least one sidewall, a top end and a bottomend, (ii) a second cavity containing a heating agent consisting of asuper-cooled salt solution that exists as a liquid in its pre-activationstate, (iii) an openable closure or tear panel or means attached to thebottom end that provides tamper-free access to the inner compartmentwhile preventing accidental activation of the heating mechanism, (iv) astructure or fixture in the form of a concentric ring that is attachedto the interior sidewall of the inner compartment at the bottom quadrantof the compartment that is designed to rigidly hold the trigger in placesuch that it is in contact with the heating agent and positioned to bestruck by an actuator means, (v) an actuator means comprising a solidrod-like or cylindrically shaped piece having an etched, pock-marked orroughened surface with a sharpened end, (vi) a trigger formed from athin metallic strip having an etched, pock-marked or roughened surfacewhich is bendable with snap displacement and having a centrally locatedcrystallization strike zone consisting of an orifice with a saw-toothedpatterned inner diameter, (vii) a flexible diaphragm attached to orcomprising the bottom end of the inner compartment and accessiblethrough the openable closure or tear panel having an interior-orientedsurface and an exterior-oriented surface whereby the interior-orientedsurface is affixed to the rod-like actuator and (viii) a heatingmechanism comprising the compressible diaphragm attached to the actuatormeans that is activated by compressing the diaphragm towards theinterior of the inner compartment to allow the actuator means to strikeagainst the saw-tooth surfaces of the trigger in the strike zone,scraping against those surfaces while simultaneously causing the metalstrip of the trigger to bend with a snap displacement such that theforces released initiate the crystallization of the super-cooled saltsolution, thus releasing heat to heat up the beverage or food stored inthe first cavity of the container.
 2. A self-heating container coveraccording to claim 1 whereby the preferred heating agent is asuper-cooled solution of aqueous sodium acetate.
 3. A self-heatingcontainer cover according to claim 1 whereby the crystallized heatingagent can be regenerated by slowly warming the crystallized salt abovethe melting temperature of the salt in such a manner as to make a stablesuper-cooled salt solution.
 4. A self-heating container cover accordingto claim 1 whereby the trigger is a thin, flat metal strip withdimensions of around ½ inch in width, 0.001 to 0.004 inches in thicknessand of sufficient length to attach to the supports, and having anetched, pock-marked or roughened surface which is bendable with snapdisplacement.
 5. A self-heating container cover according to claim 1whereby the trigger can be made of any suitable metal, including iron,steel, tin brass, aluminum, bronze or alloys and 305 or 312 alloyedsteel such that the trigger will not corrode excessively when in contactwith the super-cooled salt solution during storage.
 6. A self-heatingcontainer cover according to claim 1 whereby trigger has a centrallylocated crystallization strike zone consisting of an orifice with asaw-toothed patterned inner configuration of approximately ¼^(th) to⅜^(th) inch in diameter at the base of the saw-teeth.
 7. A self-heatingcontainer cover according to claim 1 whereby the entire surface of thetrigger is etched, pock-marked and roughened such that some of thesurface deformities are deep enough to penetrate through the strip ofmetal, forming pin-holes and cracks in the trigger.
 8. A self-heatingcontainer cover according to claim 1 whereby the trigger is secured inplace within the lower quadrant of the inner compartment by the fixturewhich is in turn attached to the inner sidewall of the inner compartmentat a location approximately 1 inch above the bottom end of the innercompartment.
 9. A self-heating container cover according to claim 1whereby the fixture is a concentric ring shape approximately ¼^(th) inchto ½ inch in width and thickness having two rectangular support members31 of approximately ¼^(th) inch to ½ inch in thickness and ½ inch inwidth extending outwards from the circumference of the concentric ringto attach to opposite ends of the trigger to secure the trigger withinthe center of the fixture.
 10. A self-heating container cover accordingto claim 1 whereby the actuator is a rod-like structure havingapproximately the same as the diameter of the orifice contained withinthe trigger as measured at the base of the saw-toothed edges of theorifice, and of sufficient length to extend from its attachment to theflexible diaphragm at the base of the inner compartment to just belowthe location of the trigger.
 11. A self-heating container coveraccording to claim 1 whereby the actuator is a solid and rigid structurehaving a top end, a bottom end and at least one sidewall whereby the topend of the actuator is sharpened and the bottom end is blunt.
 12. Aself-heating container cover according to claim 1 whereby the actuatoris of sufficient length to penetrate within around 0.25 inches throughthe orifice of the trigger.
 13. A self-heating container cover accordingto claim 1 whereby the bottom end of the actuator is coupled or attachedto the interior surface of the flexible diaphragm by a housing such thatthe housing orients the actuator to move vertically upward towards thestrike zone of the trigger without moving significantly side-to-side.14. A self-heating container cover according to claim 1 whereby thesurface of the actuator is etched, pock-marked or roughened such thatupon activation the actuator surface will rub against the saw-toothededges of the trigger and compress the heating agent trapped between thesurface deformities of the actuator and the edges of the trigger,initiating crystallization.
 15. A cover according to claim 1 consistingof a flat lid closure means that is directly and rigidly attached to theouter compartment and to the self-heating device which is then in directcontact with the material contained within the outer compartment andlocated within the first cavity of the outer compartment.
 16. A coveraccording to claim 15 whereby the lid has an openable closure means onthe surface of the lid comprising a rupturable tear panel or pull tabwhich may be ruptured to provide access to the material stored withinthe first cavity of the outer compartment of a self-heating containerwhereby (i) the pull tab has a front end and a bottom end and (ii) theback end of the pull tab is placed adjacent to the rupturable tear panelsuch that when the front end of the pull tab is pulled away from thelid, the rupturable tear panel ruptures and moves into the first cavity,provide access to the material stored within.
 17. A cover according toclaim 15 that is expanded to form a well that can extend into theinterior of the first cavity, when the cover is secured to the outercompartment, to displace some of the volume of the first cavity thatcontains the material to be heated such that a third cavity is formedthat does not contain any material and is open to the environment. Thethird cavity conforms to the shape of the inner compartment of theself-heating device and is made to hold the inner compartment in place.18. A cover according to claim 17 whereby the self-heating device isheld in place within the well of the cover by a pressure seal attachedto the circumference of the sidewall of the inner compartment.
 19. Acover according to claim 17 whereby the self-heating device is held inplace within the well of the cover by modifying the bottom end of thesidewall of the inner compartment of the self-cooling device to form amale threaded fitting that can be screwed into a female threaded fittingformed as a modification of the top expanded end of the well.
 20. Acover according to claim 17 whereby the self-heating device can bemanufactured separately from the cover and the container holding thematerials to be heated, and can be inserted into and removed from thecover and thus indirectly from a container for ease of use and topromote efficiency with respect to the manufacturing of the cover,container and the device and with respect to the recycling and reuse ofthe cover, containers and the spent heating materials.
 21. A coveraccording to claim 1 consisting of a threaded cap that functions as botha closure means and an openable closure means.
 22. A cover according toclaim 21 whereby the threaded cap is rigidly attached to theself-heating device and fitted to outer compartment such that the capcan be screwed onto the top of the outer compartment to seal off thefirst cavity that contains the contents of the outer compartment andunscrewed and removed to access the materials in the first cavity of theouter compartment when desired.
 23. A cover according to claim 21whereby the sidewall adjacent to the top end of the inner compartment ofthe self-heating device is modified to form a lip or concentric ringthat extends outward perpendicular to the vertical axis of the sidewallof the inner compartment such that the lip has a top surface, a bottomsurface, and a gasket attached to the bottom surface of the lip, and isextended such that the bottom surface of the lip forms a leak-free sealof the first cavity when the modified self-heating device is placed intothe first cavity of the outer compartment and onto the top of the outercompartment of the container and downward pressured is applied to thetop surface of the lip when a threaded cap is screwed onto the outercompartment to seal or close off the outer compartment.
 24. A coveraccording to claim 21 whereby the threaded cap can be screwed onto theouter compartment to make contact between the lip of a self-heatingdevice that lies on top of the first cavity such that a leak-free sealis formed between the cap, the lip of the self-heating device and theouter compartment whereby the cap is not permanently attached to theouter compartment but can be unscrewed and removed to access thematerial in the first cavity of the outer compartment and also screwedback on to seal off the first cavity when desired.
 25. A cover accordingto claim 21 whereby the separate self-heating device can be manufacturedand sold separately from the cover and the container, and theself-heating device can be inserted into and removed from a beveragebottle or other related container having a cap or a lid without the needfor a specially modified cap, lid or self-heating container for ease ofuse and to reduce the cost of use.